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Shine 1

Shine is the story of a sophomore girl at Harding High School. It is a story of broken hearts and mended friendships. The reader gets a small taste of the terror public high school communities can render upon the individual. A terror recognized and understood by an exclusive few who share the experience of growing up in these institutions. But the tale of persecution is just a fragment of the story. Shine presents us with another trait of our nations public institutions: the hope of acceptance within a community of our peers. A community in which strong bonds and friendships are forged. A community where we can be our brightest and encourage those around us to do the same.

When I first met Annie Moua she was a mystery. One of our editors came to me talking about a talented creator she wanted to feature, but this person could not attend the club. I have to admit I didn’t pay much attention. The halls of Harding High School are afflicted with a plethora of talented cartoonists. Maybe it’s something in the water or an additive they use in the lunchrooms. It may sound like
sacrilege to some, but the same can be found at other east side high schools like Johnson and Como. Maybe it’s not so strange to expect the neighborhood that produced the richest cartoonist in history to continue producing talent.

The editor took some paper for this scouted talent and in a week returned with the first three pages of this book. At first glance we all felt it would probably get published, but after reading the submission we were certain. These three pages were rushed into The The Zine Issue 5.

So even after publishing her work I had not met Annie Moua. Then one day a new member was talking to me before a club meeting. She talked about her work we had published and suddenly it clicked. “Your Annie Moua!” I shouted. She looked different than I had imagined her, but I should have known better. Most cartoonists share traits with their characters.

Now I won’t say that Annie Moua is perfect. Even among her skills she makes mistakes. Every cartoonist, every artist, no less, seeks to improve upon their previous achievements. What is important to note is that Annie Moua shows extreme talent and ambition among her peers. She has little to fear of human anatomy; has an understanding of pacing and story telling; costuming excites her. When she is willing to take the time she can create wonderful environments for her characters to inhabit. She embraces the nuanced mistakes of perception and the drawing hand to the degree that we in the illustration business call style. However Annie Moua’s strongest talent is her ability to crank out stories at a fiendish pace.

Well, I could write more, but it’s best you see for yourself. Please enjoy Shine!

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Comic Book Archive cbz